Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology
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Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol · Oct 2019
A systematic review of the barriers and facilitators to the provision and use of low-tech and unaided AAC systems for people with complex communication needs and their families.
Speech-language pathologists may introduce augmentative or alternative communication (AAC) systems to people who are unable to use speech for everyday communication. Despite the benefits of AAC systems, they are significantly underutilized by the people with complex communication needs. The current review aimed to synthesize the barriers and facilitators to the provision and use of low-tech and unaided AAC systems. Materials and methods: Relevant literature was identified via a systematic search strategy. ⋯ The provision and use of AAC systems is influenced by environmental factors, personal factors, and features of a person's body function. SLPs may need to collaborate with a large multidisciplinary team to successfully introduce AAC systems. SLP, teaching, and nursing students require theoretical and practical experience in AAC throughout their training to enable the provision and use of these systems.
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Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol · Oct 2019
Patients' perspectives of multidisciplinary home-based e-Health service delivery for motor neurone disease.
Purpose: To explore the views of people with motor neurone disease (MND) on the barriers, facilitators and potential benefits of using home-based e-Health service delivery (telehealth) to access MND multidisciplinary clinic care. Methods: Twelve patients from three MND multidisciplinary clinics and an MND support association group completed a survey of information technology (IT) use and participated in interviews, to gather participants' experiences and perceptions of home-based telehealth for MND clinic care. Survey data were analyzed descriptively, with interview data analyzed using a stepwise inductive approach. ⋯ Patients have indicated willingness to use e-Health applications to improve their access to care. Use of telehealth could expand service delivery to people with MND living long distances from multidisciplinary clinics, and increase the patient-centred focus of care by tailoring care planning. By offering telehealth services routinely, MND multidisciplinary clinics could also improve the quality and timelines of services offered.
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Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol · Aug 2019
Lost in digitalization? Municipality employment of welfare technologies.
Introduction: Swedish municipalities face a number of daunting challenges; an aging population, the public's increased demands and expectations on municipality services, and a strained economy to mention some. Welfare technology, a Scandinavian concept launched to promote digitalization, is seen as one solution to meet these challenges. Objective: Despite these promises, few welfare technology applications are offered by local Swedish municipalities and care organizations. ⋯ New digital activities deviate from classic caregiving, which in turn can offer opportunities to expand and enrich the experience of receiving care but it can also have negative effects on the received care if incorrectly employed. Digitalization must be regarded as an evolutionary process, in which mistakes and failures are allowed and corrected. Long-term strategies, infrastructure, clear goals and commitments are key for successful digitalization of eldercare.
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Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol · May 2019
Meta AnalysisEffectiveness of the Wheelchair Skills Training Program: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
To conduct a systematic review synthesizing the evidence for the effectiveness of the Wheelchair Skills Training Program (WSTP). ⋯ There is moderate quality evidence that the WSTP is a safe intervention that has a clinically meaningful effect on WST/WST-Q capacity scores and some other outcomes. Implications for rehabilitation A systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials on a total of 581 participants, using the Wheelchair Skills Training Program (WSTP) as the intervention, found that the WSTP increased Wheelchair Skills Test (WST) and WST Questionnaire (WST-Q) total capacity scores by 21.2% relative to baseline. Subgroup analyses showed that training was more effective for new wheelchair users. The WSTP was found to have positive effects on some other outcomes and no serious adverse events were reported. The WSTP warrants cautious implementation in clinical and educational settings.
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Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol · Nov 2018
Taking back a little of what you have lost: the meaning of using an Environmental Control System (ECS) for people with high cervical spinal cord injury.
Assistive technologies have deep and personal meanings for people with disabilities. This study sought to provide an in-depth exploration of the subjective meaning of Environmental Control System (ECS) use for people with high cervical spinal cord injury. ⋯ A nuanced range of meanings, demonstrating how "a little can mean a lot" emerged from this study. For those with high cervical spinal cord injury, "reclaiming a little doing" resulted in subtle, but subjectively significant, improvements in identity, relationships and well-being, while "feeling enabled" was both enjoyable and empowering and led to an increased sense of safety and reduced neediness. The potentially powerful impact on individuals with life-altering injuries of reclaiming a little of what they had lost, supports the value of more widespread access to and provision of ECS. Implications for rehabilitation While ECS use produces only a "little" objective change in activity levels, it subjectively means "a lot" to people with high level injuries. ECS enable people to "do" everyday things as well help in supporting them to "feel" less dependent and needy. Using ECS facilitates much more than functional tasks and a sense of security. It helps promote positive self-perception and continuity of being. It is important for those with high cervical spinal cord injuries to have access to ECS to ensure they can enjoy both psychological and physical benefits.